Oral Antiviral Treatment for COVID-19: A Comprehensive Review on Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir
Despite the rapid development of efficient and safe vaccines against COVID-19, the need to confine the pandemic and treat infected individuals on an outpatient basis has led to the approval of oral antiviral agents. Taking into account the viral kinetic pattern of SARS-CoV-2, it is of high importanc...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2022-11-01
|
| Series: | Viruses |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/14/11/2540 |
| _version_ | 1827643593675767808 |
|---|---|
| author | Karolina Akinosoglou Georgios Schinas Charalambos Gogos |
| author_facet | Karolina Akinosoglou Georgios Schinas Charalambos Gogos |
| author_sort | Karolina Akinosoglou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Despite the rapid development of efficient and safe vaccines against COVID-19, the need to confine the pandemic and treat infected individuals on an outpatient basis has led to the approval of oral antiviral agents. Taking into account the viral kinetic pattern of SARS-CoV-2, it is of high importance to intervene at the early stages of the disease. A protease inhibitor called nirmatrelvir coupled with ritonavir (NMV/r), which acts as a CYP3A inhibitor, delivered as an oral formulation, has shown much promise in preventing disease progression in high-risk patients with no need for supplemental oxygen administration. Real-world data seem to confirm the drug combination’s efficacy and safety against all viral variants of concern in adult populations. Although, not fully clarified, viral rebound and recurrence of COVID-19 symptoms have been described following treatment; however, more data on potential resistance issues concerning the Mpro gene, which acts as the drug’s therapeutic target, are needed. NMV/r has been a gamechanger in the fight against the pandemic by preventing hospitalizations and halting disease severity; therefore, more research on future development and greater awareness on its use are warranted. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:56:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a6fd6cc0b78e4e5f8ebfe14fff5e51eb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4915 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:56:26Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Viruses |
| spelling | doaj.art-a6fd6cc0b78e4e5f8ebfe14fff5e51eb2023-11-24T10:18:52ZengMDPI AGViruses1999-49152022-11-011411254010.3390/v14112540Oral Antiviral Treatment for COVID-19: A Comprehensive Review on Nirmatrelvir/RitonavirKarolina Akinosoglou0Georgios Schinas1Charalambos Gogos2Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, University of Patras, 26504 Rio, GreeceDepartment of Internal Medicine, Medical School, University of Patras, 26504 Rio, GreeceDepartment of Internal Medicine, Medical School, University of Patras, 26504 Rio, GreeceDespite the rapid development of efficient and safe vaccines against COVID-19, the need to confine the pandemic and treat infected individuals on an outpatient basis has led to the approval of oral antiviral agents. Taking into account the viral kinetic pattern of SARS-CoV-2, it is of high importance to intervene at the early stages of the disease. A protease inhibitor called nirmatrelvir coupled with ritonavir (NMV/r), which acts as a CYP3A inhibitor, delivered as an oral formulation, has shown much promise in preventing disease progression in high-risk patients with no need for supplemental oxygen administration. Real-world data seem to confirm the drug combination’s efficacy and safety against all viral variants of concern in adult populations. Although, not fully clarified, viral rebound and recurrence of COVID-19 symptoms have been described following treatment; however, more data on potential resistance issues concerning the Mpro gene, which acts as the drug’s therapeutic target, are needed. NMV/r has been a gamechanger in the fight against the pandemic by preventing hospitalizations and halting disease severity; therefore, more research on future development and greater awareness on its use are warranted.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/14/11/2540COVID-19nirmatrelvir/ritonavirPaxlovidSARS-CoV-2nirmatrelvirritonavir |
| spellingShingle | Karolina Akinosoglou Georgios Schinas Charalambos Gogos Oral Antiviral Treatment for COVID-19: A Comprehensive Review on Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir Viruses COVID-19 nirmatrelvir/ritonavir Paxlovid SARS-CoV-2 nirmatrelvir ritonavir |
| title | Oral Antiviral Treatment for COVID-19: A Comprehensive Review on Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir |
| title_full | Oral Antiviral Treatment for COVID-19: A Comprehensive Review on Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir |
| title_fullStr | Oral Antiviral Treatment for COVID-19: A Comprehensive Review on Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir |
| title_full_unstemmed | Oral Antiviral Treatment for COVID-19: A Comprehensive Review on Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir |
| title_short | Oral Antiviral Treatment for COVID-19: A Comprehensive Review on Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir |
| title_sort | oral antiviral treatment for covid 19 a comprehensive review on nirmatrelvir ritonavir |
| topic | COVID-19 nirmatrelvir/ritonavir Paxlovid SARS-CoV-2 nirmatrelvir ritonavir |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/14/11/2540 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT karolinaakinosoglou oralantiviraltreatmentforcovid19acomprehensivereviewonnirmatrelvirritonavir AT georgiosschinas oralantiviraltreatmentforcovid19acomprehensivereviewonnirmatrelvirritonavir AT charalambosgogos oralantiviraltreatmentforcovid19acomprehensivereviewonnirmatrelvirritonavir |